Zheng Peian said, "That’s right! A specialized colorectal hospital, with an initial investment of 20 million, 12 million as cash equity, and 8 million as the Xu Family’s secret formula technology equity. Master is investing 2 million, and I’m planning to invest 2 million. Are you two joining in?"

Li Jia Kuan repeated once, joining in and investing 1 million himself.

Liu Shanmin didn’t have that much money, but he wanted to venture out of Weishan Island, and he could come up with 500,000.

Now they already had 5.5 million, and Xu Chunliang would handle the remaining funds. 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝒆𝒘𝙚𝓫𝙣𝙤𝒗𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

Everyone was very aware that the success or failure of the colorectal hospital hinged on the Xu Family’s secret formula. So, pricing the Xu Family’s secret formula at 40% equity, they not only had no objections but felt like they were taking advantage of the Xu Family.

The specific procedures were to be discussed and handled by Zheng Peian and the others, with everyone assuming their respective roles. Xu Chunliang was responsible for technology and investment, while Zheng Peian and the other three were in charge of the specific establishment and operation of the hospital.

According to Zheng Peian, this matter was best done quickly; they aimed to complete all procedures within three months and ideally start operations in the first half of the year. Stimulated by Xu Jiawen, Old Zheng’s drive for success was through the roof.

Zheng Peian was still self-aware that the three of them were all specialists. Although he had run a private hospital before, he was not a professional management talent. Especially for something like opening a hospital, it was best to find someone with past relevant management experience and ample expertise.

Moreover, the series of procedures ahead required contacting many departments, and finding the right person could save a lot of unnecessary trouble.

Xu Chunliang, upon hearing this, immediately thought of Gu Houyi, the former dean of Changxing. However, after retiring, Gu Houyi went on to become the dean at Kangjian Elderly Care Hospital. He even invited Xu Changshan there before to manage the health club.

Zheng Peian informed him that Gu Houyi resigned from Kangjian not long after joining.

Xu Chunliang was taken aback as he hadn’t heard about this.

Zheng Peian also believed Gu Houyi would be a suitable choice. If he agreed to manage the hospital, they would certainly be like a tiger with wings. However, for someone of Gu Houyi’s caliber, an annual salary of at least 500,000 would be necessary, and the hospital hadn’t even opened yet, bearing such a large expense would undoubtedly be quite burdensome.

Though Xu Chunliang hadn’t interacted with Gu Houyi for long, he felt that Gu Houyi was a person with ideals; he would send messages to wish him a happy New Year during festivals.

Xu Chunliang immediately contacted Gu Houyi, expressing his wish to visit him.

Gu Houyi had just returned from Nanjiang today and promptly invited Xu Chunliang to his home for a meal. He had brought back some local specialties from Nanjiang, and with a few dishes prepared, Xu Chunliang was told all he needed to do was bring his appetite.

Of course, Xu Chunliang couldn’t go empty-handed, so he brought two bottles of Maotai to the Riverfront Scenic Garden to pay a visit to the old leader.

Gu Houyi had already set the dishes.

Knowing he didn’t cook, Xu Chunliang had specially bought a pot of stewed mutton from the mutton shop downstairs to bring up.

Gu Houyi said, "I told you not to bring anything, and here you are with wine and dishes. Why so formal with me?"

Xu Chunliang laughed, "I wanted to come see you before the years, but work got too busy, and I couldn’t find the time."

Gu Houyi chuckled, "Busy fighting?"

Xu Chunliang laughed embarrassedly. The matter of his fight at the Hidden Dragon Lake Commercial Street was so sensational that everyone knew about it.

Gu Houyi had heard the story from Gao Xinhua, whom he stayed in touch with privately. Gu Houyi still held deep affection for Changxing and would often ask Gao Xinhua about Changxing’s situation.

Xu Chunliang noticed Gu Houyi was home alone once again. Gu Houyi told him his wife was in Nanjiang with their grandson, and he too had spent the New Year in Nanjiang, just getting back today.

Gu Houyi didn’t know about Xu Chunliang’s temporary assignment to lead in Hu Shan Town. As Changxing’s former leader, it wasn’t his place to criticize Zhao Feiyang’s actions; however, if he had still been the dean of Changxing, he certainly wouldn’t have penalized Xu Chunliang’s conduct outside, not to mention the fact that Xu Chunliang’s actions had elements of punishing evil and promoting good.

After a couple of drinks, Xu Chunliang asked about Gu Houyi’s experience at Kangjian Elderly Care Hospital.

Gu Houyi said, "I’ve already left Kangjian. I’ve grown old, and my management methods have become outdated."

Hearing this confirmation, Xu Chunliang found the opportunity to bring up the colorectal hospital project: "Dean Gu, to be honest with you, I came today to ask for your help."

Gu Houyi said, "What help can I offer now that I’ve retired? Tell me, I’ll listen."

Xu Chunliang told Gu Houyi about the plan for him, Zheng Peian, and the others to open a hospital together. Gu Houyi was very familiar with the situation at Chemical Machinery Factory Hospital. When he was at Changxing, he had considered acquiring Chemical Machinery Factory Hospital to make it Changxing’s branch, but the overly strict conditions on the other side prevented success.

Now that Chemical Machinery Factory Hospital was shut down due to mismanagement, its medical staff had been laid off and settled, leaving behind nothing but an empty hospital.

Gu Houyi said, "Starting a specialized colorectal hospital?"

Xu Chunliang replied, "Do you think there’s a problem?"

Gu Houyi said, "This entry point is not bad. It seems like Dongzhou doesn’t have a specialized colorectal hospital yet, but Changxing’s Colorectal Surgery is strong. Dongzhou Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine’s Colorectal Department is also a specialty. To attract patients, you must have distinctive features. Can you tell me what your future advantages will be?"

Xu Chunliang said, "I can’t say 100%, but I can cure 90% of the patients using traditional Chinese medicine methods. Our Xu family has ancestral secret recipes in this area."

Gu Houyi laughed, "Isn’t the specialty of Huichun Hall in orthopedics? I haven’t heard before that you have expertise in colorectal issues."

Xu Chunliang laughed, "Dean Gu, others might not know, but surely you do. Although I don’t have a medical license, my acupuncture skills are top-notch in Dongzhou. Recently, while helping my grandfather organize our family’s ancestral medical books, I unearthed a large batch of precious prescriptions. Colorectal is just one of them. My preliminary idea is to start from the bottom, establish a solid foundation, and gradually expand the treatment fields."

Gu Houyi thought to himself that it truly is starting from the bottom, the bottom of the digestive system.

Xu Chunliang said, "I can bring in investment and provide technical support. Zheng Peian and his team are professionals and can handle specific tasks. However, we all lack experience in hospital management. Although we’ve decided to open a hospital, we don’t know what procedures to follow, where to start, who to hire, or how many people we’ll need. We absolutely need a seasoned insider for this."

Gu Houyi said, "So you thought of me. I’m retired and outdated."

Xu Chunliang toasted him with a glass of wine and said, "Others might not know, but how could I not know you?"

Gu Houyi laughed, "What do you know? I didn’t lead you for long."

Xu Chunliang said, "It’s a comparison. Comparing you to the current leader, even a blind person could see who has the higher leadership skills."

This flattery was pleasing, yet Gu Houyi pretended to frown in displeasure and said, "Never discuss others’ faults behind their backs."

Xu Chunliang nodded repeatedly, "Dean Gu, please guide us young folks and demonstrate your abilities once again. The president of the Beautiful Country is over eighty and doesn’t feel old. You’re only sixty, and you can at least work for another twenty years."

Gu Houyi couldn’t help but laugh, "Your words could bring the dead back to life."

"So you’re agreeing?"

Gu Houyi said, "Actually, I received offers from two hospitals this time back." He currently had no shortage of work, and the offered annual salaries were not low.

Gu Houyi was very clear that these private hospital owners were merely interested in his connections. However, over time, his value would inevitably diminish.

Xu Chunliang asked, "How much are they offering you?"

Gu Houyi said, "Kangjian offers me eight hundred thousand a year, but I still left. Do you know why? I couldn’t stand their management style. They are utterly unscrupulous in making money."

Xu Chunliang said, "Dean Gu, name your price, and let me see if I can accept it."

Gu Houyi said, "How do you know I would definitely accept your invitation?"

Xu Chunliang said, "Because I know you’re a person with sentiment. You’re not all about the money. Back in the day, you worked tirelessly for Changxing. It was you who initiated the construction of Changxing’s second phase and wisely secured Weishan Island Hospital in advance, leaving Changxing with abundant capital for the present..."

Gu Houyi interrupted his compliments, "Enough with the flattery. I’m not as great as you make me out to be. I’m no otherworldly immortal who sees money as dirt. I’m not there yet. But I appreciate you, and I believe in you."

Gu Houyi’s deep eyes suddenly lit up, and such a look made him appear youthful.

"Xiaoxu, tell me, if this hospital is constructed and opens, how long will it take for you to reach the current scale of Changxing?"

Xu Chunliang said, "At most five years, at least three years! My goal is not just to build a hospital that surpasses Changxing, but also to create a hospital dominated by traditional Chinese medicine, to rectify the name of Chinese medicine, and to have everyone reevaluate its value!"

Gu Houyi’s hand holding the wine glass shook slightly, but looking at Xu Chunliang’s serious expression, he couldn’t help but believe this boast.

Gu Houyi said, "I don’t want you to pay me a salary. I will invest two million to purchase ten percent of the equity."

With Gu Houyi joining, the colorectal specialist hospital was more than halfway to success.

Next came the hospital’s lease negotiations and specific procedural handling, all of which Gu Houyi undertook. With his connections in the health system, there would be no issues processing the hospital procedures.

Dingli Construction had halted work at both sites on Weishan Island, leaving Ding Si no choice but to arrange rest for the workers. Just when he returned to Dongzhou, Xu Chunliang called him to the Chemical Hospital.

Gu Houyi had already preliminarily agreed to the hospital’s lease, with an annual rent of one million and a ten-year contract.

Xu Chunliang’s intention was to entrust the hospital’s overall renovation and decoration to Ding Si. Based on the Changxing renovation project, the cost of decoration came to around six hundred per square meter.

The diagnostic building’s first phase planned to cover about two thousand square meters of operational space. With the renovation of the exterior walls and yard area according to Changxing’s standards, the decoration costs would exceed three million.

Upon hearing that it was Xu Chunliang investing in the hospital, Ding Si was intrigued. He expressed interest in using the construction costs to buy in with two million worth of shares.